U.S. patent number 8,179,354 [Application Number 12/202,438] was granted by the patent office on 2012-05-15 for liquid crystal display panel and liquid crystal display applying the same.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Au Optronics Corporation. Invention is credited to Chih-Ming Chang, Ying-Ru Chen, Ching-Huan Lin.
United States Patent |
8,179,354 |
Chen , et al. |
May 15, 2012 |
Liquid crystal display panel and liquid crystal display applying
the same
Abstract
A liquid crystal display panel including a first substrate, a
second substrate, scan lines, data lines, pixel unit sets, and a
liquid crystal layer is provided. The scan lines, data lines, and
pixel unit sets are disposed on the first substrate. A first gap is
formed between two adjacent pixel unit sets. Each of the pixel unit
sets includes pixel units, and a second main space is formed
between two adjacent pixel units. Each of the pixel units includes
an active device electrically connected to a scan line and a data
line, and a transparent pixel electrode has slits and electrically
connected to the active device. The width of the first gap is
greater than that of the second gap.
Inventors: |
Chen; Ying-Ru (Hsinchu,
TW), Lin; Ching-Huan (Hsinchu, TW), Chang;
Chih-Ming (Hsinchu, TW) |
Assignee: |
Au Optronics Corporation
(Hsinchu, TW)
|
Family
ID: |
40582216 |
Appl.
No.: |
12/202,438 |
Filed: |
September 2, 2008 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20090109160 A1 |
Apr 30, 2009 |
|
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Oct 25, 2007 [TW] |
|
|
96140043 A |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
345/98;
349/139 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G02F
1/134336 (20130101); G02F 1/133707 (20130101); G02F
1/134345 (20210101) |
Current International
Class: |
G09G
3/36 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;345/87-104,204
;349/84,139-152 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Sherman; Stephen
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Jianq Chyun IP Office
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, comprising: a first
substrate; a plurality of scan lines, disposed on the first
substrate; a plurality of data lines, disposed on the first
substrate and respectively intersected with the plurality of scan
lines; a plurality of pixel unit sets, disposed on the first
substrate and each pixel unit set comprising a plurality of pixel
units disposed along a longitudinal direction of the scan lines,
wherein each two adjacent pixel units are separated by one of the
scan lines and data lines, and each of the pixel units comprises:
an active device, electrically connected to one of the scan lines
and one of the data lines; and a transparent pixel electrode,
electrically connected to the active device and comprising a
plurality of slits; a second substrate, disposed above the first
substrate; and a liquid crystal layer, disposed between the first
substrate and the second substrate; wherein a first gap is located
between the transparent pixel electrodes of the two adjacent pixel
unit sets and provided with a first width direction parallel to the
longitudinal direction of the scan lines, a second gap is located
between the transparent pixel electrodes of the two adjacent pixel
units in each pixel unit set and provided with a second width
direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the scan lines,
and the width of the first gap is greater than that of the second
gap.
2. The LCD panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein a part of the slits
in each pixel unit are connected to the corresponding second
gap.
3. The LCD panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slits are
arranged symmetrically with respect to the corresponding second gap
in each of the pixel unit sets.
4. The LCD panel as claimed in claim 3, wherein the slits in each
pixel unit set are arranged symmetrically with respect to an axis
being perpendicular to the first gap and the second gap.
5. The LCD panel as claimed in claim 4, wherein the angles between
the plurality of slits and the axis or the angles between the
extension of the plurality of slits and the axis are in the range
of 0 degree to 90 degree.
6. The LCD panel as claimed in claim 4, wherein the angles between
the plurality of slits and the axis or the angles between the
extension of the plurality of slits and the axis are in the range
of 0 degree to 45 degree.
7. The LCD panel as claimed in claim 4, wherein the angles between
the plurality of slits and the axis or the angles between the
extension of the plurality of slits and the axis are 0 degree.
8. The LCD panel as claimed in claim 3, wherein each of the pixel
unit sets comprises a first pixel unit and a second pixel unit, and
the slits of the first pixel unit and the slits of the second pixel
unit are arranged symmetrically with respect to the corresponding
second gap there-between.
9. The LCD panel as claimed in claim 3, wherein each of the pixel
unit sets comprises a first pixel unit, a second pixel unit, a
third pixel unit, and a fourth pixel unit arranged in sequence, the
slits of the second pixel unit and the slits of the third pixel
unit are arranged symmetrically with respect to the second gap
there-between, and the slits of the first pixel unit and the slits
of the fourth pixel unit are arranged symmetrically with respect to
the second gap between the second pixel unit and the third pixel
unit.
10. The LCD panel as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at
least one polymer layer disposed on at least one of the first
substrate and the second substrate, wherein the polymer layer is
made from the monomers added in the liquid crystal layer treated by
a UV curing or heat curing process.
11. The LCD panel as claimed in claim 10, further comprising at
least one alignment layer disposed at least between the first
substrate and the polymer layer or between the second substrate and
the polymer layer.
12. The LCD panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the pixel
units further comprises a reflective pixel electrode electrically
connected to the corresponding active device.
13. A liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, comprising: a first
substrate; a plurality of scan lines, disposed on the first
substrate; a plurality of data lines, disposed on the first
substrate and respectively intersected with the plurality of scan
lines; a plurality of pixel unit sets, disposed on the first
substrate and each pixel unit set comprising a plurality of pixel
units disposed along a longitudinal direction of the scan lines,
wherein the pixel units are defined by the substantially
intersected scan lines and data lines, and each of the pixel units
comprises: an active device, electrically connected to one of the
scan lines and one of the data lines; and a transparent pixel
electrode, electrically connected to the active device and
comprising a plurality of slits; a second substrate, disposed above
the first substrate; and a liquid crystal layer, disposed between
the first substrate and the second substrate; wherein the
transparent pixel electrodes of different pixel units are
electrically connected to different data lines, a first gap is
located between the transparent pixel electrodes of the two
adjacent pixel unit sets and provided with a first width direction
parallel to the longitudinal direction of the scan lines, a second
gap is located between the transparent pixel electrodes of the two
adjacent pixel units in each pixel unit set and provided with a
second width direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of
the scan lines, and the width of the first gap is greater than that
of the second gap.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan application
serial no. 96140043, filed on Oct. 25, 2007. The entirety of the
above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by
reference herein and made a part of specification.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display (LCD)
panel. More particularly, the present invention relates to an LCD
panel using polymer-stabilized alignment and a display applying the
same.
2. Description of Related Art
Along with the great progress of computer performance and high
development of internet and multi-media techniques, the volume of
video or image apparatuses gradually becomes lighter and thinner.
As for displays, since the progress in photoelectric technology and
semiconductor manufacturing technology, LCD apparatuses having
advantages of high display quality, good space utilization, low
power consumption, and no radiation have gradually become
mainstream displays in the market.
The LCD apparatus includes a backlight module and an LCD panel, and
a conventional LCD panel is constituted by two substrates and a
liquid crystal layer filled between the two substrates. Generally
speaking, during the manufacturing of the LCD panel, an alignment
film is formed on the two substrates, such that liquid crystal
molecules have a certain arrangement. A conventional method of
forming the alignment film involves first coating an alignment
material, and then performing an alignment process on the alignment
material. The alignment process may be divided into a contact
alignment process and a non-contact alignment process. Though the
non-contact alignment process can solve problems of electrostatics
and particle contamination caused by the contact rubbing alignment,
the problem of insufficient anchoring energy of the alignment
surface often occurs, which will lead to a poor display quality of
the LCD panel.
In order to solve the above problem, a technique of
polymer-stabilized alignment (PSA) has been set forth. In this
technique, monomers of certain concentration are added into the
liquid crystal and then uniformly oscillated. Then, the mixed
liquid crystal is placed on a heater and heated to assume an
isotropy state. After that, when the temperature of the liquid
crystal mixture drops to the room temperature (25.degree. C.), the
liquid crystal mixture returns to a nematic state. At this time,
the liquid crystal mixture is injected into a liquid crystal cell
and is applied with a voltage. When the voltage is applied to
stabilize the arrangement of the liquid crystal, a UV light is used
to make the monomers formed a polymer layer, thereby achieving the
purpose of stabilized alignment.
Further, in order to obtain a stable and uniform liquid crystal
domain when a voltage is applied, fine slits must be designed on a
pixel electrode. By arranging the fine slits in different
directions, a multi-domain arrangement may be achieved after the
above processes, such that the LCD panel obtains a display effect
of wide viewing angle. Generally speaking, the design of the fine
slits on the pixel electrode is optimized in terms of shape,
position, and quantity, so as to achieve a preferred liquid crystal
arrangement. However, as a higher resolution requires a smaller
sized pixel unit of the LCD panel, the design of the fine slits is
restricted by the limited area of the pixel electrode and the
limitation of the process capability. For example, the alignment
direction of the fine slits on the pixel electrode may be reduced
accordingly, which will adversely affect the display effect of wide
viewing angle of the LCD panel.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to an LCD panel, for providing a
high design tolerance of the fine slits under a high resolution
requirement and limited process capability, thereby achieving the
display effect of wide viewing angle.
The present invention is further directed to an LCD apparatus,
which adopts the aforementioned LCD panel, thereby achieving a
better display effect of wide viewing angle.
As embodied and broadly described herein, the present invention
provides an LCD panel comprising a first substrate, a plurality of
scan lines disposed on the first substrate; a plurality of data
lines disposed on the first substrate and respectively intersected
with the plurality of scan lines; a plurality of pixel unit sets,
disposed on the first substrate and each pixel unit set comprising
at least two pixel units, wherein the pixel units are defined by
the substantially intersected scan lines and data lines; a second
substrate disposed above the first substrate; and a liquid crystal
layer disposed between the first substrate and the second
substrate. Each of the pixel units comprises an active device
electrically connected to one of the scan lines and one of the data
lines; and a transparent pixel electrode electrically connected to
the active device and comprising a plurality of slits. A first gap
is located between the transparent pixel electrodes of the two
adjacent pixel unit sets, a second gap is located between the
transparent pixel electrodes of the two adjacent pixel units in
each pixel unit set, and the width of the first gap is greater than
that of the second gap.
In an embodiment of the present invention, a part of the slits in
each pixel unit are connected to the corresponding second gap.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the slits are arranged
symmetrically with respect to the corresponding second gap in each
of the pixel unit sets.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the slits in each pixel
unit set are arranged symmetrically with respect to an axis being
perpendicular to the first gap and the second gap. The angles
between the plurality of slits and the axis or the angles between
the extension of the plurality of slits and the axis may be in the
range of 0 degree to 90 degree or in the range of 0 degree to 45
degree, for example, 0 degree or 45 degree.
In an embodiment of the present invention, each of the pixel unit
sets comprises a first pixel unit and a second pixel unit. The
slits of the first pixel unit and the slits of the second pixel
unit are arranged symmetrically with respect to the corresponding
second gap there-between.
In an embodiment of the present invention, each of the pixel unit
sets comprises a first pixel unit, a second pixel unit, a third
pixel unit, and a fourth pixel unit arranged in sequence. The slits
of the second pixel unit and the slits of the third pixel unit are
arranged symmetrically with respect to the second gap
there-between. The slits of the first pixel unit and the slits of
the fourth pixel unit are arranged symmetrically with respect to
the second gap between the second pixel unit and the third pixel
unit.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the LCD panel further
comprises at least one polymer layer disposed on at least one of
the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein the polymer
layer is made from the monomers added in the liquid crystal layer
treated by a UV curing or heat curing process.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the LCD panel further
comprises at least one alignment layer disposed at least between
the first substrate and the polymer layer or between the second
substrate and the polymer layer.
In an embodiment of the present invention, each of the pixel units
further comprises a reflective pixel electrode electrically
connected to the corresponding active device. Furthermore, the
reflective pixel electrode and the transparent pixel electrode of
each pixel unit may be respectively corresponding to different cell
gaps.
An LCD apparatus adopting the aforementioned LCD panel is also
provided. The LCD apparatus includes a backlight module and the LCD
panel. The LCD panel is disposed above the backlight module, and
uses a backlight source provided by the backlight module as a
display light source.
The present invention adopts the above design, thus providing a
high design tolerance of the fine slits. The display quality of the
LCD apparatus is improved.
In order to make the aforementioned and other objectives, features,
and advantages of the present invention comprehensible, embodiments
accompanied with figures are described in detail below.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description
and the following detailed description are exemplary, and are
intended to provide further explanation of the invention as
claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further
understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate
embodiments of the invention and, together with the description,
serve to explain the principles of the invention.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an LCD panel according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a partial top view of a first substrate of the LCD panel
of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 shows a pixel unit on the first substrate.
FIG. 4 is a top view of a pixel unit according to another
embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a top view of a pixel unit according to still another
embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a top view of a pixel unit according to another
embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a top view of a pixel unit according to another
embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a schematic view of an LCD apparatus according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
The present invention is applicable to an LCD panel fabricated by
the PSA process. A plurality of pixel unit sets is divided by
designing the width of the gap between the pixel units, and the
slits of different pixel units in the same pixel unit set are
designed, thereby achieving a multi-domain alignment effect through
the combination of the pixel units in the polymer-stabilized
alignment (PSA) process. In detail, though the design of the slits
on a pixel electrode may be restricted by the limited area of the
pixel electrode and the limitation of the process capability, which
will result in a decrease of the quantity and alignment direction
of the slits in a single pixel unit, the present invention
integrates a plurality of pixel units to achieve a desired
alignment effect. In other words, the present invention can provide
a high design tolerance of the slits under the high resolution
requirement and limited process capability, thereby achieving the
display effect of wide viewing angle.
The embodiments are given below for illustrating, instead of
limiting, the design of the present invention. Those skilled in
this field can make modifications according to actual requirements
with reference to the following disclosure of the present invention
without departing from the scope of the present invention.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an LCD panel according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
The LCD panel 100 fabricated by the PSA process includes a first
substrate 102, a second substrate 104, a first polymer layer 106a,
a second polymer layer 106b, and a liquid crystal layer 110.
The second substrate 104 is disposed above the first substrate 102
and may be a color filter substrate or a substrate with only a
common electrode layer. The material of the first substrate 102 and
the second substrate 104 is, for example, glass, plastic, or other
suitable materials. The liquid crystal layer 110 is interposed
between the first substrate 102 and the second substrate 104 and
consists of liquid crystal molecules and monomers.
Typically, the liquid crystal layer 110 is treated by UV curing or
heat curing process. During the curing process, the monomers may be
partially or fully polymerized to form the first polymer layer 106a
and the second polymer layer 106b. The first polymer layer 106a and
the second polymer layer 106b are respectively formed on the second
substrate 104 and on the first substrate 102, like FIG. 1 shown. It
should be noted that the polymer layer may also be formed only on
the substrates 102 or 104 (not shown in the figure).
In this embodiment, in order to further improve the alignment
performance, the LCD panel 100 further includes a first alignment
layer 108a and a second alignment layer 108b. The first alignment
layer 108a and the second alignment layer 108b are respectively
disposed on the second substrate 104 and the first substrate 102,
i.e., respectively disposed between the second substrate 104 and
the polymer layer 106a and between the first substrate 102 and the
polymer layer 106b. In this embodiment, alignment layers are
disposed on both the second substrate 104 and the first substrate
102. It should be noted that an alignment layer may not be
disposed, or disposed only on the second substrate 104 or the first
substrate 102 according to the actual requirements.
FIG. 2 is a partial top view of a first substrate of the LCD panel
in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 shows pixel units on the first substrate. For
simplifying illustration, film layers such as a probable dielectric
layer and channel layer are omitted in FIG. 3. However, the actual
positions and functions of those omitted film layers could be
deduced by those skilled in this field according to the disclosure
of this embodiment and with reference to the conventional art, and
the details will not be described herein again.
Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 together, a plurality of scan lines
112, a plurality of data lines 114, and a plurality of pixel unit
sets 116 are disposed on the first substrate 102. The data lines
114 and the scan lines 112 are perpendicularly intersected to each
other to form a plurality of pixel units. In detail, each pixel
unit includes an active device 118 and a transparent pixel
electrode 120, in which the active device 118 is driven by the
corresponding scan line 112 and data line 114, and inputs a driving
voltage to the transparent pixel electrode 120. Further, each
transparent pixel electrode 120 has a plurality of first slits 120a
and second slits 120b. The first slits 120a and second slits 120b
are arranged in the first part and the second part of the pixel
electrode 120. The first slits 120a and second slits 120b are
arranged as mirror images of each other in the each pixel unit, so
that the first slits 120a and second slits 120b have the
symmetrical tilted angles with respect to an axis 710 which also
divided the transparent pixel electrode 120 into a first part and a
second part. Furthermore, in other embodiments, some slits (not
shown) may be located on the axis 710. In this embodiment, the
first slits 120a have a tilted angle of +.theta. with respect to
the axis 710 and then the second slits 120b have a tilted angle of
-.theta. with respect to the axis 710. It is also obtained in the
contrary i.e. the first slits 120a have a tilted angle of -.theta.
and the second slits 120b have a tilted angle of +.theta.. The
tilted angle is in the range of from 0 degree to 90 degree,
preferred from 45 degree to 0 degree. In this embodiment, the first
slits 120a have a tilted angle of +45 degree with respect to the
axis 710 and then the second slits 120b have a tilted angle of -45
degree with respect to the axis 710. Each pixel unit set 116
includes two adjacent pixel units 116a and 116b. In this
embodiment, the active device 118 is, for example, a thin film
transistor (TFT). Definitely, in other embodiments, the active
device 118 may also be a bipolar transistor or other three-terminal
active devices. The material of the scan lines 112 and the data
lines 114 is, for example, a metal material such as Cr, Ta, or
other suitable conductive materials. Moreover, the material of the
transparent pixel electrode 120 may be indium tin oxide (ITO),
indium zinc oxide (IZO), or other transparent conductive
materials.
In this embodiment, there is a second gap 150 between the two
adjacent pixel units 116a and 116b in each pixel unit set 116, and
there is a first gap 160 between the two adjacent pixel unit sets
116 in the same row, wherein the axis 710 is perpendicular to the
first gaps 160 and the second gap 150. In detail, a first space 160
is located between the transparent pixel electrodes 120 on the
pixel units at the adjacent sides of two adjacent pixel unit sets
116. A second space 150 is located between the transparent pixel
electrodes 120 on the two pixel units 116a, 116b in each pixel unit
set 116. The first gap 160 and the second gap 150 are also arranged
parallel to the data lines 114 and parallel to each other. Here,
the width of the first space 160 is wider than that of the second
gap 150, such that the tilted directions of the liquid crystal
molecules on different pixel unit sets 116 are distinguished.
According to this embodiment, in each pixel unit set 116, the first
slits 120a of the transparent pixel electrodes 120 on the two
adjacent pixel units 116a, 116b are arranged symmetrically with
respect to the second gap 150 serving as a symmetrical axis. Also,
the second slits 120b of the transparent pixel electrodes 120 on
the two adjacent pixel units 116a, 116b are arranged symmetrically
with respect to the second gap 150 serving as a symmetrical
axis.
In this embodiment, some of the first slits 120a and the second
slits 120b are connected to the corresponding second space 150.
That is, some of first slits 120a and the second slits 120b
penetrate through the boundary line of the transparent pixel
electrode 120 to become the opened slits. However, it should be
noted that the first slits 120a and the second slits 120b may not
be connected to the second space 150. That is, the first slits 120a
and the second slits 120b are still the closed slits.
According to this embodiment, each pixel unit set 116 includes two
pixel units 116a, 116b. The first slits 120a and the second slit
120b of the transparent pixel electrode 120 are arranged as mirror
images of each other in each pixel unit 116a, the first slits 120a
in the same pixel unit set 116 are arranged symmetrically with
respect to the second gap 150 serving as a symmetrical axis, and
also the second slits 120b in the same pixel unit set are arranged
symmetrically with respect to the second gap 150 serving as a
symmetrical axis. Therefore, the liquid crystal molecules (not
shown) in the liquid crystal layer 110 on each pixel unit set 116
have four tilted directions. That is, there are four domains in
each pixel unit set 116.
In the above embodiment, the first and second slits of the
transparent pixel electrode of each pixel unit extend in two
directions respectively. However, according to another embodiment,
the first and second slits of the transparent pixel electrode of
each pixel unit are aligned in only one direction when the titled
angle is 0 degree with respect to the axis. Therefore, all of the
first slits and second slits in each pixel unit become into the
slits numbering "220a" in the FIG. 4. Referring to the FIG. 4, the
slits 220a of the two pixel units 216a in each pixel unit set 216
extend in a horizontal direction with respect to the axis 720. The
structure and function of the pixel unit and the pixel unit set in
FIG. 4 are similar to those of the pixel unit and the pixel unit
set in FIG. 3, so only the differences will be described below. The
slits 220a of the transparent pixel electrode 220 on each of the
two pixel units 216a, 216b in each pixel unit set 216 extend in
only one direction, and are arranged symmetrically with respect to
the second gap 150 serving as a symmetrical central axis.
Therefore, the liquid crystal molecules (not shown) in the liquid
crystal layer on each pixel unit set 216 have two tilted
directions. That is, there are two domains in each pixel unit set
216.
However, in another embodiment of the present invention, the first
and second slits of the transparent pixel electrode of each pixel
unit are aligned in only one direction when the titled angle is 90
degree with respect to the axis. That is, the slits of the two
pixel units in each pixel unit set extend in a vertical direction
with respect to the axis. FIG. 5 is a top view of a pixel unit
according to still another embodiment of the present invention. The
structure and function of the pixel unit in FIG. 5 are similar to
those of the pixel unit in FIG. 4, so only the differences will be
described below. Referring to FIG. 5, the slits 320a of the
transparent pixel electrode 320 on each of the two pixel units
316a, 316b in each pixel unit set 316 extend in a vertical
direction with respect to the axis 730. It should be noted that
though one or two extending directions are illustrated as an
example in the above embodiments, the alignment direction of a
single pixel unit may also be three or more according to practical
requirements.
Further, as the arrangement of the pixel colors has a certain
variation, in order to meet such variation and achieve a more
uniform display effect, the present invention is not limited to
integrate two pixel units as a set. For example, the pixel units
may be arranged into sets and each set has four pixel units in a
row, in a column, or in an array. The alignment direction of a
single pixel unit in each group may be one, two, or more.
FIG. 6 is a top view of a pixel unit according to another
embodiment of the present invention. Each of the pixel sets 416 has
four pixel units 416a, 416b, 416c, and 416d in a row. The structure
and function of the pixel unit in FIG. 6 are similar to those of
the pixel unit in FIG. 3, so only the differences will be described
below. Referring to FIG. 6, in each pixel unit set 416, there are
three second gap 450 located between the four neighboring pixel
units 416a, 416b, 416c, and 416d. The first slits 420a of the
transparent pixel electrode 420 on each of the four pixel units
416a, 416b, 416c, and 416d extend in two directions symmetrically
with respect to the second gap 450' which is between the second
pixel unit and the third pixel unit. The second slits 420b of the
transparent pixel electrode 420 on each of the four pixel units
416a, 416b, 416c, and 416d also extend in two directions
symmetrically with respect to the second gap 450'. Here, the
pattern of the first slits 420a of the pixel unit 416a and of the
pixel unit 416d is symmetrical, and the pattern of the first slits
420a of the pixel unit 416b and of the pixel unit 416c is
symmetrical. Moreover, the pattern of the second slits 420b of the
pixel unit 416a and of the pixel unit 416d is symmetrical, and the
pattern of the second slits 420b of the pixel unit 416b and of the
pixel unit 416c is symmetrical.
According to this embodiment, each pixel unit set 416 has four
pixel units. The slits of each pixel unit extend in two directions,
and in each pixel unit set 416, the pattern combination of the
first and second slits (420a and 420b) on four pixel units is
symmetrical. Therefore, the liquid crystal molecules (not shown) in
the liquid crystal layer on each pixel unit set 416 have four
tilted directions. That is, there are four domains in each pixel
unit set 416. Similarly, though two extending directions are
illustrated as an example in this embodiment, the alignment
direction of a single pixel unit may be changed according to
practical requirements.
In view of the above, the pixel unit set of the present invention
may be formed by different arrangements and combinations through
different numbers of pixel units and extending directions of the
slits. Thus, the present invention can provide a high design
tolerance of the slits under the requirement of a high resolution
and limited process capability, thereby achieving the display
effect of wide viewing angle.
The transmissive LCD panel is taken as an example for illustration
in the above embodiments. However, the present invention can also
be applied to a transflective LCD panel. FIG. 7 is a top view of a
pixel unit according to another embodiment of the present
invention. The structure and function of the pixel unit in FIG. 7
are similar to those of the pixel unit in FIG. 3, so only the
differences will be described below. Referring to FIG. 7, a
reflecting pixel electrode 522 is further disposed on each of two
pixel units 516a, 516b of a pixel unit set 516. Each reflecting
pixel electrode 522 is electrically connected to an active device
(not shown). Here, the reflecting pixel electrode 522 and
transparent pixel electrode 520 of each of the pixel units 516a,
516b are, for example, respectively corresponding to different cell
gaps, so as to control the display gray level of the reflecting
region and transmissive region of a pixel, thereby avoiding
non-uniform display caused by different display mechanisms
(different optical path) in the reflecting region and the
transmissive region.
FIG. 8 is a schematic view of an LCD apparatus according to an
embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 8, the LCD
apparatus 1000 includes an LCD panel 1100 and a backlight module
1200. The backlight module 1200 is adapted to output a surface
light source S to the LCD panel 1100 as a display light source for
the LCD panel 1100. Moreover, the design of the structure and the
pixel unit of the LCD panel 1100 may be changed similar to the
above or other embodiments, so the details will not be described
herein again. Further, the backlight module 1200 is a direct type
or a side type backlight module, and adopts a cold cathode
fluorescence lamp (CCFL), light-emitting diode (LED), or other
suitable light sources as a light source.
In view of the above, in the LCD panel and LCD apparatus of the
present invention, a plurality of pixel unit sets is designed by
the width of the gap between the pixel units, and the slits of
different pixel units in a pixel unit set are designed, thereby
achieving a multi-domain alignment effect through the combination
of the pixel units in the PSA process. In other words, the present
invention can provide a high design tolerance of the slits under
the requirement of a high resolution and limited process
capability, thereby achieving the display effect of wide viewing
angle.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various
modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the
present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the
invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the
present invention cover modifications and variations of this
invention provided they fall within the scope of the following
claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *